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Lawrence MA Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Massachusetts · SSA Region 01

Approval Rate

61.3%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

292 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,687

awaiting hearing

ALJs

5

active judges

Lawrence MA ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
Jonathan P. Baird 73.3% 26.7% 64% 300 348
Anthony Dziepak 63% 37% 59.6% 376 456
Timothy Belford 58% 42% 40.9% 438 508
John Benson 54.6% 45.4% 42.9% 427 491
Alexander Klibaner N/A 100% N/A 2 4

Former Judges at Lawrence MA

This judge has no recorded decisions at Lawrence MA in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.

Judge Last Decisions Reported Approval Rate Total Decisions
Ellen P Bush January 2025 47.7% 398

Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.

About the Lawrence MA Social Security Hearing Office

The Lawrence MA hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Massachusetts. This office is in SSA Region 01 and currently has 5 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 61.3%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. This rate represents the aggregate of all judge decisions at the office and includes both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 0% to 73.3%, a 73-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 292 days. There are currently 1,687 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 337 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 41.5%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.

How to Interpret Lawrence MA Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Lawrence MA, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.

With an average wait time of 9 months and 292 days average processing time, claimants at Lawrence MA can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Lawrence MA have collectively issued 1,543 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 309 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 2 to 438 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Lawrence MA Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Lawrence MA?
The average ALJ approval rate at Lawrence MA is 61.3% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 0% to 73.3%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 41.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Lawrence MA?
The Lawrence MA office has 5 administrative law judges. Of these, 4 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 2 to 438 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Lawrence MA?
The current average wait time at Lawrence MA is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 292 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.
How is office data calculated?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
How often do judges at Lawrence MA issue fully favorable decisions?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Lawrence MA, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 41.5%.
Is Lawrence MA's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 3 hearing offices in Massachusetts, Lawrence MA has the highest approval rate at 61.3%. In terms of wait time, Lawrence MA ranks 1 of 3 (9 months). Visit the Massachusetts overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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